A humectant amino acid used to attract water to the skin’s surface. It is a part of the skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor, a mixture of various compounds that keeps the skin’s surface well hydrated. Arginine can also be used as a pH adjuster.
Moisturizing
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Other functions
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Antistatic,
Antistatic
Antistatic – reduces electric charge buildup.
Antistatic,
Antistatic
Antistatic – reduces electric charge buildup.
pH Adjuster
pH Adjuster
pH adjuster – alters the pH level of a formula.
pH Adjuster
pH Adjuster
pH adjuster – alters the pH level of a formula.
Origin
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Synthetic,
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Synthetic,
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Arginine is a partially essential amino acid. Amino acids are important building blocks of all proteins.
Arginine is usually added as a humectant moisturizing ingredient in skincare products. The amino acid retains water to the skin’s surface and is also a part of the so-called Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), a complex mixture of free amino acids and other water-soluble compounds found in skin cells.
Arginine can also be used as a pH adjuster because it is slightly alkaline. Contrary to popular belief, arginine and other amino acids don't function as ‘skin nutrition’ and do not help with the synthesis of collagen or elastin. This is due to the simple fact that they are water-soluble and cannot pass through the skin barrier.
All of the effects of arginine, therefore, happen on the surface of the skin.
Science
1
Ahsan H. (2019). Immunopharmacology and immunopathology of peptides and proteins in personal products. Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry, 40(4), 439–447.
2
Oshimura, E., & Sakamoto, K. (2017). Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins. Cosmetic Science and Technology, 285–303.
Humectant
